Ditching-machine.



B. M. ROLPH.

DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION min ueczze. |914.

Patented Oct. 2,1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

mm mm,

m4, WMD/W. D

SLW/memes 21u12 www far/m M.

B. M. ROLPH.

DITCIHING MACHINE.

Patented Oct. 2,1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

QQ mm mm mm s .qm

B. M. ROLPH.

DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEc.26, I9I4.

1,241,661. Patented OCI. 2,1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

B. M. ROLPH.

DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATON FILED DEC-26.1914.

1,241,661. Patented oet. 2,1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

B. M. ROLPH.

DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED nEc.26. |914.

sas

BENJAMIN IVI. ROLPI-I, 0F DIXON, ILLINOIS.

DITCI-IING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led December 26, 1914. Serial No. 878,999.

To all whom z' may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN M. RoLri-r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dixon, in the county of Lee and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ditching-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Myl invention has reference to ditching machines, and more specially to that class of such machines which are used for forming trenches for the laying of tile and kindred purposes. My device is so constructed as to deliver the earth which is removed from .the ground on both sides of the excavating wheel, and the excavating devices are secured in such a manner as to be readily removable, and capable of being replaced by others of different widths, so as to cut trenches ofvarying widths. The principal improvements comprise the parts by which this is accomplished, and these and other features of the device will more fully appear from the following specification, reference being had to the drawings accompanying the same, in whieh- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention, with the cutting wheel in operating position. Fig. 2 is a similarl view of the opposite side of the wheel. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the forward supporting mechanism. Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 5 is a detail of the central part of such mechanism. Fig. 6 is a transverse section, media.lly of the machine, looking toward the forward end thereof. Fig. 7 is a detail, showing one of the Scrapers 76. Fig. 8 is a c rosssection on the line -m of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 shows one of the scoops in side elevation. Fig. 10 is a lower plan view thereof. Fig. 11 is an end view of the cutting end thereof. Fig. 12 is a detail of the roller 67 and drive mechanism therefor.

Similar parts are indicated by like letters of reference throughout the several figures.

l represents the frame of the machine, preferably formed of angle-plate, supported by carrying-wheels 2, and provided with a tongue 3. At the rear end is mounted a motor of any suitable desiginas indicated at 4, by which is driven a shaft 5, on which is fixed a. sprocket-wheel 6, from which movement is imparted through a sprocketchain 7 to a wheel S on a shaft 9 mounted on the frame. Fixed to the shaft 9 on the iight hand side of the machine is a sprocketwheel l0, (Fig. 2.) connected by a chain 11 with a sprocket-wheel 12 on a shaft 13 rotatably mounted on the frame 1. On the shaft 13 is also fixed a sprocket-wheel 14, connected by a sprocket-chain 15 with a sprocket-wheel 16 secured on a shaft 17 rotatably mounted at the forward end of the machine. On the shaft 17 is fixed a drum 18, adapted to receive a cable 19 when the drum is properly rotated. The outer end of the cable is secured to a fixed object ahead of the machine, or may be passed around such object and back to the forward end of the tongue 3, in a manner not shown in the drawings. Upon the cable being wound upon the drum, by the operation of the motor, the machine is drawn gradually forward.

The manner of supporting the forward end of the frame 1 is preferably as shown in Figs. 3, 1land 5, in which 2() is a crosspiece secured at its ends to the side pieces of the frame 1, centrally of which crosspiece is rigidlysecured a yoke 21 in the lower part of which a cross-beam 22 is supported on a pivot 23. At the ends of the beam 22 are fixed brackets 24 in which are held pivots 25 upon which the wheels 2 are mounted. Projecting forwardly from the pivots 25 are arms 27, united by a bar 28, connected at a central point with the tongue The rear end of said tongue is pivotally connected with the upper part of the yoke 21 by a brace 29, and with the lower part of the cross-beam 22 by a brace 30. When it is desired to cause the machine to describe a curve the tongue is forced to one side or the other, as shown in broken lines in Fig. el, resulting in the turning of the wheels in the same direction. In the use of the cable 19 Patented Oct. 2, 1917.

this would be accomplished by establishing the` fixed point for the cable at one side or other of the direct line of travel of the machine. Secured from the ends of the crosspiece 20, so as to loosely embrace the crossbeam 22 at its ends, are guidesl, which permit alimited vertical movement of such ends. "When the machine is passing over uneven ground f theV wheels are thus permitted to rise or fall without disturbing the position of the frame or mechanismvcarried thereon.

Mounted on the sides of the frame l is:

the scoop, where it is carried up to the upper side of the wheel, and discharged. To aidV ir holding the load of earth in the scoop until it reaches the point of discharge a gate is pivoted to a projection 53at by means of a shank 63a, and held in position normallyby means of a stiff coiled spring.

an arch 32, Withinwhich is a frame 33. iv-"`**G4"secured at one end to the projection 534 oted by meansfof arms. 34 on the sha t 9. Secured to the upper part of the frame 33,

Aare cables 35 which pass over pulleys 36 on. the arch 32'and downwardly to a shaft 37 mounted on supporre-'37a onl the frameof the n'iachine. On the shaft 37 is secured a wormfgear`33, actuated by means of a worm 39 by 4means, of a hand-wheel 40. By winding the cables 35 upon the shaft 37 the frame 33 is raised, and by a contrary operation it is lowered, f,or the purposes hereinafterset forth.

Rotatably supported by the frame 33 is a hub 41, forming the axis of a rim .42, attached thereto by means ofv spokes 43. l/Vithin the rim 42 is an internaly gear 44, actuated by aA gear-wheel 45 on the inner end of` a shaft 46 mounted in a frame 47 secured. tok `the frame 33. On the outer end of the shaft 4 6 is a sprocket-wheel 48, connected. bya chain 49 with a wheel50, fiXedi on a. shaft 51 supported on one side of the frame 33. 'The shaftlis operated from` the shaft 9, in such manner that the parts just referredv to, i including the wheel 42,..

` will rbe continuouslyin, *operationy while thev machine` isA in movement.

Mounted on the rim 42 are pairs of standrl ards 52 and 53, to each pair of which is attached a scoop 5,4, formed of a cutter 55, curved end-piece 56, and bars 57 uniting'` the same. The scoops are removably vsecured toA thestandards by mear-s of connections 58 and' 59, held in placeoy means ofl bolts. GOI andv 6l.` Each of the scoops is also provided with a.` nosey or point 62, removably secured at theL forward `end of the cutter 55. The scoops are preferably of a shallow dish,- shaped form, instead' of semi-circular, soV that there isv not so great a tendency for a vscoop-full of earth to be retained thereby.`

The openy character 'of the body of the scoop also facilitates the discharge of the `contents thereof,` especially in the case of wet and sticky dirt or clay, which would be` inclined to adhere to the wallsof a solid scoop. The supports 53v are shorter than., the ones 52, so that eachy of the scoops has a gradual inclination with reference to the rim 42, toward the rear end o f the scoops. This results kin the earth beingy first enand encircling the shank 63a.

The forward support 52,l and connection: 58 assist 1n loosening up; the earth. afteran,

opening hask been, made therein, by, thepoint 62,. butin order that saidi parts. may work ede'ctively it is necessary that they. beflor. catedl dway suchl point and thel near; edges of the cutter 55.

In case said connecting parts are situatedl in amore rearward position, between the rear edges, of the cutter, there is danger of the earth becomingw clog-ged or j ammed betweenv such parts, interfermg. with the perfect action thereof.

If it is desiredy tog excayate'a, trench of in-. creased or decreased width this., can.Y be`r acf.

coinplished by removing thescoops; 54 and:

replacing the same with others of greater or less width. V j

@utside of the 'rim '42k are secured inclined shields v65` and; 66, by which the earth. whichy is, discharged from the scoops,

at the upper side ofthe wheel 42 is directedoutwardly upon'rollersZ and 68; supported from the frame 33. at each, side of said.l wheel. rlhe roller G7 Ais operated from.; a

shaft- 69,'m.ounted on a part of the frame ,The roller 68 is similarly operated from the shaft 51.

scoops from falling back into; the trench therey is provided at 'each side of the machine a scraper 76, provided at its forward: end vwith a rod 77 su-pportedon a. roller 7 S heldy inx a brackety 7;9 .fixed to1 theV cross-beam 22. The rod 77 is fixed toI the* scraper 7,6; byE

meansk of` a yoke 80, (Eig.-` 8,),'the ends of (Fig. 12.)

. 12,0` To prevent` the earth which falls front theV which engage `any pair of holes 81 in the end of said scraper. The height of the forward end thereof is thus capable of being adjusted, to give the desired inclination to the scraper. The rear end of the scraper is supported from the frame 1 by a crank-arm 82, upon the upper end of which is fixed a collar 83, having a bearing on a bracket 84 fixed to the frame. This support, with the roller bearing support at the forward end of the scraper, permits a limited longitudinal movement thereof. A rod 85 is connected at one end to an eye 86 fixed to the upper edge of the scraper and at the other end to the lower part of the frame 33, near the hub 41. When the frame 33 is raised or lowered, carrying with it the ditching-wheel, the hub of such wheel describes the arc of a circle, and the rod 85 controls the longitudinal movement of the scraper 76, so that when such hub moves rearwardly the scraper moves rearwardly therewith, and similarly on the return movement. The forward end of the scraper is also provided with means for adjustment of the degree of slant thereof with reference to the ground, such means comprising an arm 87 secured to the upper edge of the scraper, and a plate 88 having a series of notches 89 adapted to be engaged by a bolt 90 held in a swivel-block 91 supported on a bracket 92 fixed to the cross beam 22. By moving the plate 88 inwardly or outwardly the scraper 76 is rocked upon the rod 77, the upper edge of the scraper being thereby forced toward the frame 1 or away from it, and the lower edge of the scraper moved in a contrary direction. After the desired adjustment is secured the plate 88 is locked in position by the bolt 90. .The swivel mounting of the plate 88 permlts it to conform to the longitudinal movement of the scraper.

At the sides of the frame 33 are pivotally mounted small frames 93, to each of which is secured a scraper 94, capable of separating the earth fromy the scoops 54 as they reach the upper part of their movement. On account of the gradual inclination of the scoops toward thccutting wheel, as hereinbefore mentioned, it is necessary to provide some method of drawing the Scrapers 94 inwardly as they pass through the scoops, and prevent friction of such parts. This is accomplished in the following manner z-Attached to each of the frames 93 is a rod 95, extending downwardly and connected at its lower end with a trip-lever 96, (shown partly in broken lines in Fig. 1) which lever is pivoted at its upper end to the frame 33, and is adapted to be engaged at its fr ee end by a series of pins or rollers 97 carrled by a disk 98 on the hub 41. In the rotation of the cutting-wheel each of the pins 97 successively comes in contact with the free end of the lever 96, drawing the same downwardly and causing a downward movement of the frame 93 and scraper 94. The pins 97 are equal in number to the scoops 54 and are so disposed upon the disk 98 that one of said pins engages the lever 96 as the scraper enters the scoop. When the scraper is leaving the scoop at the other end the pin slips past the end of the lever 96, permitting the return movement of the scraper to its outer position. This upward movement is enforced by means of springs 99 secured at their lower ends to the frames 93 and at their upper ends to supports 100 fixed to the frame 33. The mechanism for controlling the action of said Scrapers, as just herein set forth, is not new of itself.

In the forward movement of the machine the rotation of the wheel 42 causes a constant operation of the scoops, which successively carry a load of earth to the upper part of the wheel, and discharge it on both sides of the machine, whereupon it is forced a suHicient distance from the excavation to permit of the laying of the tile therein. The depth of the cut is readily adjusted by raising or lowering the frame 33.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination with a ditching wheel rotatably mounted, a scoop having a substantially V- shaped cutting member, provided at its point with a detachable cutting point, and a pair of standards connecting the opposite ends of said scoop with said wheel, the standard at the forward end of said scoop being attached to said cutting member midway the cutting point and base thereof.

2. In a ditching machine the combination of a portable frame; a frame pivotally supported in said main frame so as to be vertically movable therein; an excavating wheel rotatably mounted in said last named frame and adapted to deliver the excavated material at each side thereof; a pair of scrapers secured to the sides of the main frame so as to be longitudinally movable, and operatively connected with said vertically movable frame, so as to be actuated by the movement thereof.

3. In a ditching machine, the combination of a portable frame; a frame vertically movable therein; an excavating wheel rotatably mounted in said last named frame; a scraper secured to the side of the main frame so as to be longitudinally movable, and operatively connected with said vertically movable frame; and means for vertical adjustment of the forward end of said scraper.

4. In a ditching machine, the combination of a portable frame; a frame vertically mov- @in v mai-usm..

able therein;v an. excavating Wheel;A 1:otatabljyfy of the. incline thereof Withfirefeienceto the mounted inlsaid last named; fname; a scrapen ground; 10 Sellred tothe; Side ofthe main frame, soy as.y In. testimony whereof I ax my signature to be longitudinally movable, and operini presence of. twowitnesses.

atively collliectedWithsy sra-id lvertically mov- BENJAMIN M. ROLPH.

able frame, so astomove therewith; means Witnesses: a

foi.1 vertical adjustment of the foIWai-d end GERTRUDE-G'. YOUNGMAN,

ot said Semper; and meansfm-` adjustment; GALLme'l".l GARLAND.k 

